Walter Perkins nodded as he picked up the belongings of his chum.

“Mr. Nance,” said Tad, “I think you and Ned are the strongest, so I’ll ask you two to take hold of the rope when I get started.  If you need help the Professor will lend a hand.”

Professor Zepplin shook his head.  He did not approve of this at all.  However, it seemed their only hope.  Tad started for the lower end of the walled-in enclosure, the others following him.  The lad made the rope fast around his waist, twisting it about so that the knot was on the small of his back.  Thus the rope would not interfere with his swimming.  He then uncoiled the rope, stretching it along the ground to make sure that there were no kinks in it.

“There, everything appears to be in working order.  Don’t you envy me my fine swim, boys?” Tad laughed cheerfully.

“Yes, we do,” chorused the boys.

It must not be thought that Tad Butler did not fully realize the peril into which he was so willingly going.  He knew there was a big chance against his ever making his goal, but he was willing to take the slender remaining chance that he might make it.

“All ready,” he said coolly.

Dad and Ned took hold of the rope.

“Don’t hold on to it at all unless I shout to you to do so.  I must be left free.  Let me be the judge if I am to be hauled back or not.”

With a final glance behind, to see that all was in readiness, Tad stepped to the edge of the water.  Chunky pressed up close to him.

“Is there any last request that you want me to make to relatives or friends, Tad?” asked the fat boy solemnly.

“Tell them to be good to my Chunky, for he’s such a tender plant that he will perish unless he has the most loving care.  Here I go!”

With a wave of his hand, Tad plunged into the swirling waters.  Though his plunge was seen, the sound of it was borne down by the thunderous roar of the river.  As Butler vanished it was as though he had gone to his instant doom.

Instinctively the two men holding the rope tightened their grip, beginning to haul in.  But Tad’s head showed and they eased off again.

Just a few moments more, and Tad was seized by the waters and hurled up into the air.

“He jumps like a bass,” chuckled Chunky.

“Quit that talk!” ordered Ned sharply.  “Poor Tad, we’ve let him go to a hopeless death!”

All watched Tad breathlessly—–­whenever they could see him.  More often the boy was invisible to those on land.

A strong swimmer, and an intelligent one, Tad had more than found his match in these angry, cruel waters.  Though the current was in the direction that he wanted to go, the eddies seemed bent on dragging him out to the middle of the stream, where he must be most helpless of all.

Tad was fighting with all the strength that remained to him when an up-wave met him, caught him and hurled him back fully ten feet.  Butler now found his feet entangled in the rope.